The number of car thefts around Charlotte is on the rise. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says last year saw a 12 percent increase in motor vehicle thefts, with the largest increase happening in south Charlotte.
Captain Christian Wagner said the majority of the auto thefts citywide are occurring at gas stations and explained how the crimes usually go.
“And what you’re going to see [at gas stations] is… people running into the store, just for a few minutes [and] leave their car running,” Wagner said. “It’s a crime of opportunity.”
Slightly less than 2,800 vehicles were stolen last year, CMPD said, and 46 percent of those vehicles were recovered.
